In Conversation

They told him he was beautiful
and, until the sun dipped behind the horizon, he was.
They told him he was strong
and, until he became weary, he forced everyone from his path.
They told him he was an explorer
and, until the cold winds became too strong, he went where he'd never been before.
They told him he was a man
and he tried to work out what they meant. 

When he asked himself what matters,
he crumbled.
When enough had fallen away,
they rebuilt.

When they told themselves they were loveable,
they were.
When they told themselves they were beautiful,
they were.
When they told themselves they could cope,
they did.
and when they stopped to listen,
all was transformed.